Snapped up! Hermes handbag made of crocodile skin sets new world record with £230,000 price tag
- The Hermes Himalaya Birkin bag sold for £230,000 setting a new world record
- It was bought during an online sale held by London-based auctioneers Christie’s
- The Hermes bag is made from the skin of the Niloticus crocodile found in Africa
For many, a beautiful new handbag can look so alluring that you simply have to buy it – whatever the price tag.
So maybe it is best that those with a weakness for high fashion avert their eyes from this Himalaya Birkin bag.
Because the diamond and white gold encrusted accessory has sold for £230,000, setting a new world record.
It was made by French fashion house Hermes and is said to be the most desirable design in the world and the ‘holy grail’ for collectors.
The Hermes Himalaya Birkin bag made from the skin of the Niloticus crocodile found in Africa sold for a world record £230,000 in an online sale held by auctioneers Christie’s
The market for handbags has taken off recently with some increasing in value by as much as 40 per cent in the space of a year.
They are now seen as a more secure and lucrative investment than art and stocks and shares. The Himalaya Birkin bag is made from the skin of the Niloticus crocodile found in Africa.
The name derives from the graduation of its colour from grey to pearly white that resembles the snow-capped mountains of the Himalayas.
Share this article
It was bought during an online sale held by auctioneers Christie’s, which raised a total of £1.75million overall.
It was the most expensive lot, selling to an anonymous buyer for a record-breaking fee of £231,000.
The price makes it the most expensive handbag ever bought in any online-only auction. It was also the biggest amount ever paid for a bag sold in America.
Rachel Koffsky, head of sales for handbags and accessories at Christie’s, says: ‘The Himalayan handbag is the most collectable handbag in the world and the holy grail for collectors'
Rachel Koffsky, head of sales for handbags and accessories at Christie’s, said: ‘The Himalayan handbag is the most collectable handbag in the world and the holy grail for collectors.
'The highest level of craftsmanship goes into making them and they represent the pinnacle of craftsmanship.
‘They are very rare but the exact number is not known. Our clients are international collectors, most are female who want to buy them to use and show off.
‘Some do keep them for display but they are wearable works of art and [others] wear them only for a very special occasion such as a wedding.’
Christie’s also holds the record for handbags sold at any auction – £305,000 for another Himalaya Birkin in 2017.
Most watched News videos
- Shocking scenes at Dubai airport after flood strands passengers
- Mel Stride: Sick note culture 'not good for economy'
- Chaos in Dubai morning after over year and half's worth of rain fell
- Appalling moment student slaps woman teacher twice across the face
- 'Inhumane' woman wheels CORPSE into bank to get loan 'signed off'
- Shocking scenes in Dubai as British resident shows torrential rain
- Shocking moment school volunteer upskirts a woman at Target
- Shocking video shows bully beating disabled girl in wheelchair
- Sweet moment Wills handed get well soon cards for Kate and Charles
- 'Incredibly difficult' for Sturgeon after husband formally charged
- Rishi on moral mission to combat 'unsustainable' sick note culture
- Prince William resumes official duties after Kate's cancer diagnosis
